Understanding the Kingdom Concept of Culture Pt 3
Allow me to continue on the concept of the Kingdom culture. Another common characteristic of all countries is shared values. In order to have a country that runs effectively, the people must share the same values. People as a whole must agree that they all value the same thing, such as life or peace or freedom. And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. If one wants to be in right-standing with the King, one must agree and obey His Word.
Another characteristic is, every nation also develops its own customs. Customs are really derived from a nation's shared values. A custom is a customary way of doing something, a behavioral pattern that is not only commonly accepted, but also expected. For example: When taking the children of Israel to the land of Canaan, He told them what not to do. Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.... (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled), lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you. For whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be cut off from among their people.
‘Therefore you shall keep My ordinance, so that you do not commit any of these abominable customs which were committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them: I am the Lord your God.’” These were just some of the customs that the heathen religious leaders observed.
Overall, customs are generally consistent throughout a nation, although there are many regional variations. Quite often a nation's customs are so distinctive that they become a point of identification for that nation, such as certain traditional manners of dress or kinds of foods.
Finally, there are social norms. These are similar to customs but have a greater force of authority within a society. Social norms are standards of speech, thought, and definitely behavior that are accepted by the wide majority of the people as right and power. If you were to violate a custom, you may be thought of as being eccentric. If you were to violate a social norm, you could risk being ostracized.
Now, everyone of these--land, language, laws, symbols, constitution, moral code, shared values, customs, and social norms--comprise what we call culture.
Exodus 19:3-8 Leviticus 18:1-5, 27-30
~~W.R. Luchie
So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. If one wants to be in right-standing with the King, one must agree and obey His Word.
Another characteristic is, every nation also develops its own customs. Customs are really derived from a nation's shared values. A custom is a customary way of doing something, a behavioral pattern that is not only commonly accepted, but also expected. For example: When taking the children of Israel to the land of Canaan, He told them what not to do. Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.... (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled), lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you. For whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be cut off from among their people.
‘Therefore you shall keep My ordinance, so that you do not commit any of these abominable customs which were committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them: I am the Lord your God.’” These were just some of the customs that the heathen religious leaders observed.
Overall, customs are generally consistent throughout a nation, although there are many regional variations. Quite often a nation's customs are so distinctive that they become a point of identification for that nation, such as certain traditional manners of dress or kinds of foods.
Finally, there are social norms. These are similar to customs but have a greater force of authority within a society. Social norms are standards of speech, thought, and definitely behavior that are accepted by the wide majority of the people as right and power. If you were to violate a custom, you may be thought of as being eccentric. If you were to violate a social norm, you could risk being ostracized.
Now, everyone of these--land, language, laws, symbols, constitution, moral code, shared values, customs, and social norms--comprise what we call culture.
Exodus 19:3-8 Leviticus 18:1-5, 27-30
~~W.R. Luchie
